Grow up and speak up!
Written by Malene Sillas, OIFE Board Member. Growing up from childhood, becoming a young adult, I’ve always felt that whatever I do, it feels like I’m the first person to do it. I remember that the first time I felt that way, I was in my second year of high school. The whole class was…


![[Image shows a gouache/ink/pencil cartoon illustration I made in my sketchbook. Against a black background, a yellow orb frames an illustration of me sitting on the floor, crooked white femme with glasses and hair in a messy bun. I look down lovingly at the ghost of kid-me sitting in my lap, and hold the back of her head gently. She looks back at me and holds juniper (fluffy black cat) in her lap. Around the orb is abstract decorative designs of yellow vines, sparkles, and dots.]](https://oife.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Haley-Brown-illustration-877x470.png)
